Paying for counseling is a challenge, whether you are fortunate enough to have insurance benefits, or are paying out of pocket.

All of the colleagues who practice at Wise Counsel & Comfort are committed to offering sliding fee scale to those clients whose financial circumstances are strained. Please don't hesitate to call any one of the counselors who seem like just the right therapist to meet your needs and inquire about their fee range.

There are several counselors with Wise Counsel who are able to offer especially low fees. By office location, these clinicians are:

And finally, there are two very low-fee counseling options in Portland where individuals, families and couples can see student intern counselors who are pursuing master's degrees at local universities.

Insurance

Your first task, if you are insured, is to either call your insurance provider, or go onto their website (listed on the back of your insurance card) to discover whether you have mental health benefits, and if so, what the benefit is and whether you need preliminary authorization to see someone.

Ask whether there is a 'panel' of counselors you need to choose from. Some insurers allow you to only see those on their panel; Other insurers will allow you to see any licensed professional, but may require you to pay a higher co-pay. These are referred to as 'out-of-network' providers. Still other companies will allow you to choose any licensed counselor or social worker. About half of the counselors at Wise Counsel & Comfort are fully licensed professionals: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Psychologist (Psy.D., or Ph.D.). Any of them may be able to work with you to seek reimbursement for fees from your insurance company.

The following professionals are either on approved panels or work closely with the following specific insurance plans: